National Fall Prevention Week: Tips to Safely Age in Place

September 21-25 is National Fall Prevention Awareness Week and a time to bring attention to one of the leading causes of injuries and hospitalizations among senior adults in the U.S. According to the CDC, over 3 million seniors in the U.S. are treated in emergency rooms due to fall-related injuries each year. Of that figure, one in five seniors will have a serious injury resulting in increased health problems later on.

Despite this statistic, there are many ways to decrease the risk of fall-related hazards and injuries. Proactively taking precautions and even making minor home alterations can significantly reduce the risk of experiencing a fall-related injury that can impact your long-term health.

Fall Prevention Tips

1. Make Your Home Safer – This one is common sense and simple to do. Many injuries are often a result of inadequate lighting or clutter around the home. Brighten the walkways and darker areas around your home by adding some lighting in the hallways and hard-to-see areas. Tidy up any excess clutter that might impede your direct walking path (throw rugs, mats, extension cords, boxes, etc.) In addition, make smaller changes to any outside areas of your home. Arranging outdoor furniture so that it doesn’t impede walkways, ensuring any outdoor steps are in good overall condition and free of any exposed materials and railings are secured are all steps you can take to help prevent fall-related injuries.

2. Prioritize Your Health – One of the most important ways to reduce fall risk is to make your health a top priority. Discuss any current medications that might increase your likelihood of falling with your primary care physician. It’s also important to get your hearing and vision tested regularly. Your healthcare provider might be able to provide an assessment for fall risk based on your health history. In addition to prioritizing your health by visiting your healthcare provider, make a habit of staying active and incorporate low-impact exercises into your wellness plan. A regular wellness routine not only improves coordination, but helps with muscle strength and balance. Just be sure to check with your healthcare professional before starting a new exercise routine.

3. Use Assistive Devices – Assistive devices provide mobility support and assistance with the activities of daily living. Many devices including grab bars, vision aids, canes, walkers, rollators and more, improve mobility and greatly reduce the risk of a fall, especially when traveling outside of a home environment. For help with choosing the right device, consult with your healthcare team. You can also call Concordia Medical Equipment to learn more.

These are only a few of the many ways to make an environment safer and reduce the chances of experiencing a fall or injury. Prioritizing your healthcare needs and making minor modifications within a home environment can increase overall individual safety and better allow you to age in place.

If you or a loved one are looking for senior and healthcare services in Western Pennsylvania Eastern Ohio or Tampa, FL, visit the care levels and services page of our website or call us at: 724-352-1571. To learn more about the ways medical equipment can provide assistance with the activities of daily living and reduce fall-risk, call Concordia Medical Equipment at: 724-352-1100 to speak to customer service. You can also message us through the contact form on our website 24 hours a day.